Sri Lankan pacer Nuwan Thushara has issued an official apology to the Sri Lanka Cricket Board through an email to SLC CEO Ashley de Silva (copied to President Shammi Silva), for filing a lawsuit against his own cricketing board as they denied him an NOC for IPL participation. Nuwan Thushara was all set to make his impact in the IPL but he was denied the NOC as he failed in the fitness test. Sources claimed that he didn’t intend to cause trouble to the board but he was seeking fairness and justice, as he felt that he was treated unfairly.

Nuwan Thushar had filed a case in the court seeking an order to direct the Sri Lankan Cricket Board to grant him an NOC as the board had initially declined his request, stating that he failed his fitness tests. But the board informed the district court that objections will be filed on Nuwan Thushara’s case, which eventually led to the apology of Nuwan Thushara.

 

Fitness concerns, missed IPL chance and hopes of reconciliation shape Thushara’s situation

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru faced injury concerns early on in the season as Josh Hazlewood was set to miss the initial games of the season. They had picked up the New Zealand speedster, Jacob Duffy, in the IPL 2026 auction to cope up with potential injuries of the foreign pacers.

Nuwan Thushara potentially eyed a spot in the starting squad as he was part of the setup in the previous season and he waited all season to play a game for the side and ended up bowling quite a good spell. RCB had faith in the pacer as well as they retained him for the IPL 2026 season. So, the disappointment of Nuwan Thushara is justified because everybody wants to be a part of the biggest franchise cricket league in the world. Especially, with the unavailability of Josh Hazlewood, Nuwan Thushara could have cemented his spot in the side for the season.

However, the denial of the NOC by the Sri Lankan Cricket Board came due to the failure of Nuwan Thushara in the fitness test. From the point of view of the SCB, they have to keep track of the fitness of their players as they do have an international schedule coming up as well. Interestingly, they granted NOC to Pathum Nissanka to play for the Delhi Capitals. Nuwan Thushara has clarified that he apologises for any inconvenience that has been caused and proposes for an amicable solution. The hearing of the case filed by Nuwan Thushara is scheduled to be held on April 23 in the Colombo District Court.

Nuwan Thushara has played 30 T20Is for Sri Lanka since 2022 and he will be indebted to his national side as well. The decision regarding his NOC remains to be highly unlikely as of now but if a solution can be finalised between the two parties, it would play a great role in restoring their relation back to good terms.